‘It gives the younger generations the opportunity to learn about wildlife and the countryside’

November 16th, 2016

Countryside Alliance > ‘It gives the younger generations the opportunity to learn about wildlife and the countryside’

‘It gives the younger generations the opportunity to learn about wildlife and the surrounding countryside’ – Avril Coleman, Crundale

Hunt Street Shoot in Crundale is a small, non-profit members shoot of around 10-20 guns on any given day and unpaid enthusiastic beaters are a plenty. We are a friendly shoot ranging from 5 to 75 years with family links in abundance.

A lot of the ‘old boys’ (my dad included) have known each other all their lives having grown up on the family farms and the surrounding villages. A lot of these people would feel quite isolated at this time of year and the fortnightly gathering forms a large part of their social calendar.

For me I have been going since I was a young girl and take great pleasure in working my dogs and feel very lucky to be surrounded in such beautiful countryside – why else would a girl in her twenties continue to hang around with a bunch of old farmers!

I consider a lot of the people on the shoot to be part of my extended family and a lot of fun manifests from farming and gundog banter, wildly unjust ‘fines’, and the greatly anticipated ‘boat race’ initiation for new beaters.

The shoot itself is also very conservation (and beater!) friendly, no woodcock have been shot for the last 3 years. Surrounding woodland and pasture is subsequently managed because of the shoot. Hare, deer, birds of prey etc are frequently spotted and admired – giving the younger generations the opportunity to learn about wildlife and the surrounding countryside.

We are looking for more people to take part in our campaign for the 2016/2017 season. To be part of our shooting campaign, email us at shooting@countryside-alliance.org and tell us why you have a #loveofshooting.